Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Design Your Own JDRF Race Car Contest

JDRF and Ford Customer Service Division once again will join forces to help raise funds and awareness for type 1 diabetes. This is the fourth year of the contest and once again FCSD will partner with its NASCAR team, Wood Brothers Racing, for the JDRF Design Your Own Race Car Contest. To date, the contest has raised over $200,000!

The winning child of the 2011 JDRF Race Car Contest and his/her parents will participate in the vehicle unveiling ceremony at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, MI on Thursday, August 18, 2011. In addition, the winning child and his/her parents will have the opportunity to attend the NASCAR race at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, August 21, 2011.

Designs must be submitted by children with type 1 diabetes, ages 5-18.  Only one design may be submitted per child. Designs must be hand-drawn. All design submissions should be sent to the JDRF Illinois Chapter and are due by April 11, 2011.

For additional information, official rules and entry form, please visit www.jdrf.org/ford

Monday, March 21, 2011

JDRF Loses Two Champions


On March 16th JDRF lost a dear friend and champion, Jim Tyree.  Many volunteers, donors, and staff members had the pleasure of working side-by-side with Jim toward our shared goal to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. There are no words to describe the loss that the Tyree family, the JDRF family, the Mesirow Financial family, and the entire city of Chicago have suffered. Jim’s work on behalf of JDRF – and all families living with diabetes – made an incredible difference and he will be remembered for his passion and dedication to our mission.



We are also still mourning the loss of another incredible leader, friend, and advocate.  Ron Santo enthusiastically led the Walk for 32 years – giving the Walk a strong and emphatic voice.  He helped generate more than $60 million since the Walk's first steps and made it a spirited and successful annual tradition.  He put his heart and soul into the Walk and we’re asking everyone to do the same this October 2.  Let’s make this year’s Walk the best yet – in honor of our favorite #10.

Registration for the 2011 Walk is Now Open!

SAVE THE DATE:
OCTOBER 2, 2011
JDRF is now working with a new Walk registration and database system.  The new system offers participants additional features such as the ability to set up a team web page and link your personal fundraising page to social networking sites.  It will also enable walkers to track Walk donations and download donor reports.  Because the system is new, it contains no information from previous years; therefore, all participants will have to register as if they have never registered for another JDRF event before.

We have created a
document which will help guide you through the registration process.  If you have any questions, please e-mail or call your Walk Manager so we can help walk you through the process or answer any questions.



We will also host a Registration Conference Call for family teams and individual walkers on March 23rd at 12:00 p.m. to guide users through the system.  If you would like to participate in this call, please r.s.v.p. by March 22nd to Erin Miller, emiller@jdrf.org.  Once your r.s.v.p. is received, you will be sent the call-in information.  Information on a corporate team conference call coming soon.

We thank you in advance for your patience as we navigate the new system.  Your continued support and dedication to our mission is appreciated.

Register today at walk.jdrf.org! Thank you again for all you do to support JDRF!

Questions? Please contact your local Walk Manager today.

RON SANTO WALK SPOTLIGHT: BERKOT'S RYAN'S RESCUERS


Berkot's Ryan's Rescuers Team at the 2010 Palos Hills Walk.

The Kotara Family, owners of Berkot's Super Foods, a chain of twelve stores located south of New Lenox, IL and scattered in towns from New Lenox to Watseka, Illinois, is a significant contributor and dynamic supporter of JDRF.  The Kotara family involvement is spearheaded by Kristin and Luke Kotara, 2010 Corporate Chairs for the Southwest Walk in Palos Hills, on behalf of their son, Ryan, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2007.  Luke and Kristin, with the help of family, friends, employees and vendors, executed an incredible effort that has raised over $200,000 since they became involved in 2007!
Ryan Kotara at the 2010 Walk Awards Dinner
Ryan Kotara at the 2010 Walk Awards Reception

In 2010, Berkot's organized a Golf Outing at Green Garden Country Club in West Manhattan, Illinois. This sold-out event raised over $35,000 thanks to the support from loyal vendors, family, friends, customers and local celebrities.  In addition, all twelve Berkot's Super Food stores pitched in and sold JDRF paper sneakers in September and October and raised an additional $14,000!  An additional $76,000 was raised through online donations and Walk day contributions when the Berkot's Ryan's Rescuers team came out with over 170 team members!

Kristin, Luke and the Berkot's supporters are ready for another successful fundraising year!  They will once again lead the way at the Palos Hills Walk Site as Corporate Chairs.  They also plan to expand their golf outing, increase their sneaker sales campaign and implement even more innovative discount programs within their stores, as well as host additional "fun"draisers to increase their total this year.  We look forward to partnering with them to meet their fundraising objectives! Thank you to the Berkot's Ryan's Rescuers team!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Check out these exciting events coming up to benefit JDRF!


Team WR4X is combining two of their favorite things – shopping and JDRF!  Come for an evening of shopping and fun on Sunday, March 20th! Tickets are $20.00 and include appetizers and soft drinks, 1 raffle ticket and entry to the event.  A portion of the ticket price will benefit JDRF.

Events for the evening include a silent auction, 50/50 raffles to benefit JDRF as well as door prizes, plus all the shopping you can handle!

For additional information or to purchase tickets, please contact Kim Sutherland at (630) 995-3886.

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Egg Shell Shuffle - Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friends of Samantha's Steppers Walk team will be hosting a Half Marathon, 5k Run/Walk, and an egg hunt at Busse Woods Forest Preserve.
6:45-8:00am: Race Day Registration ($55 1/2 marathon, $35 5k, $5 egg hunt) and packet pick-up.
8:30am: 1/2 marathon start
8:45am: 5k run/walk start
11:30/11:45am:  Awards (approximate time)
12:00 EGG HUNT BEGINS!

**reduced registration rates if you register before April 23rd**

To register today and learn more about the Egg Shell Shuffle please visit:
www.eggshellshuffle.com.

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Freedom from Insulin 2011! - Friday, May 6th
Join the Kouba Family Team at Real Time Sports Bar in St. Charles, IL on May 6th.  Enjoy live music, 50/50 raffle and much more from 6 p.m. - 1 a.m.!

For more information, please contact Gary at:
TurbomanG@aol.com.

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Special thanks to the below for recently hosting a successful JDRF fundraiser:
Thank you to Boston’s Gourmet Pizza in Tinley Park for their successful February fundraising event! During their JDRF campaign, Boston’s offered heart shaped pizzas, desserts and paper hearts with a portion of the proceeds benefitting JDRF.  They raised a total of $2,261!  Thank you to Boston’s and to the JDRF supporters that dined out to help raise additional funds for research!  Please continue to support Boston’s - a wonderful JDRF national sponsor.

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Helping your best buddy comes naturally for 10-year-old Ryan Shanley, who put together a fundraiser in honor of his friend Frank McCarter of Frank’s Diabetes Stompers.  It was a mother/son ping pong tournament held at his house and by the looks of the picture – they had a great time!  There was a $25 entry fee to participate and donations were also collected.  This evening of fun raised over $500 for JDRF! 

Kids Corner

Home Elementary School in Stickney, IL is holding their first Kids Walk! The whole school will walk during their PE classes on Friday, March 18th. Home Elementary School’s representative, Lynette Martin, is hoping the weather will be beautiful and the kids can walk outside. Lakefront Walk Manager, Katy Akester, attended two school assemblies on February 24th to talk to the kids about diabetes, JDRF, and the Walk. Everyone was enthusiastic about raising donations for a cure…and for prizes! Good luck to Home Elementary School!


Kingston Elementary School in Kingston, IL is hosting a Kid’s Walk on April 5th. Thank you for your support, Kingston Elementary! Have a great walk!


Spring is the perfect time to organize a JDRF Kids Walk! For more information on the JDRF Kids Walk program, please visit jdrfkidswalk.donordrive.com. To set-up your own Kids Walk, please contact your local Walk Manager.



Every two years, JDRF International Chairman Mary Tyler Moore and over a hundred children with type 1 diabetes gather in Washington, D. C.  to meet face-to-face with some of the top decision-makers in the U.S. government.  The children, ages 4 to 17, represent all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As participants in JDRF's Children's Congress, they have a unique and empowering opportunity to help Members of Congress understand what life with type 1 diabetes is like and why research to find the cure for diabetes and its complications is so critical.

Congratulations to the 2011 Illinois Children's Congress delegates:  Kelsey Brown, Caitlin Reedy and Aubrey Woolford.Children's Congress will take place on June 20-22, 2011 in Washington, D.C.

Sneaker Sales Announcements

Party City, America's largest specialty party goods chain, will be teaming up with JDRF for a sneaker sales campaign from April 3 - May 14, 2011.  Please help us spread the word about this campaign and purchase a sneaker on your next trip to Party City. To find a location near you, please click here.  Thank you, Party City!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Shop at Gap, Inc. Stores and Support JDRF!

Who doesn't love a 30% off coupon that can be used at any Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Gap Outlet, and Banana Republic Factory Store?!?!

We are thrilled to announce that JDRF has been selected as one of the partners for the Gap, Inc. Spring 2011 Give and Get Campaign!

Use this 30% off coupon between March 17th - March 20th and 5% of your purchases will benefit JDRF.

Coupons are tracked by zip code and will be allocated to each chapter, so this is an excellent opportunity to support the Illinois Chapter!

Click here to get your coupon.  Please be sure to spread the word and share the coupon, so your friends and family can have fun supporting JDRF and our mission.

This is a great opportunity to update your Spring wardrobe and support our chapter!

Please note:  The coupon is only available March 17 - March 20 for in-store purchases and can be used multiple times.